2023 Hajj: There Won’t be Increase in Fare, NAHCON Assures Pilgrims

2023 Hajj: There Won’t be Increase in Fare, NAHCON Assures Pilgrims

By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has provided reassurance to intending pilgrims for this year’s Hajj that there will not be any further changes to the fare paid.

This was contained in a statement released by Mousa Ubandawaki, the Deputy Director Information of the Commission on Saturday in Abuja.

According to Ubandawaki, the Chairman/CEO Alhaji Zikrullah Kunle Hassan made the reassurance at the opening of a one-day workshop organised by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in collaboration with NAHCON held at the conference hall of Hajj house in Abuja.

The workshop, titled “Training and capacity building for pilgrims groups and leaders,” is part of the initiative to train Nigerian Hajj managers on crowd control and management communication skills, information, and awareness campaigns.

The chairman expressed his commitment to ensuring that the increased costs incurred by air carriers due to the closure of the Sudanese airspace would not be passed on to the pilgrims.

“It is true that the air carriers have increased the charges by $250 (Two hundred and fifty dollars) because of the closure of the Sudanese airspace. Though we are still consulting to find an avenue to address the increase. However, whatever decision that we may arrive at, it won’t impact or require the pilgrims to pay additional charges,” said Alhaji Zikrullah.

The chairman, however, expressed disappointment at the additional $63 charges for camp and electronic applications in visa processing costs by the Ministry of Hajj.

He stated that the Ministry had previously agreed not to charge any extra fees at the pre-Hajj meeting, noting that the commission has written to protest this development and hopes for a positive response, despite bearing the cost without transferring it to the pilgrims.

Alh. Zikrullah prayed for a peaceful resolution to the Sudan crisis, urging all feuding parties to lay down their arms in the interest of Islam, the innocent pilgrims, and the country.

He emphasised the importance of the workshop, urging participants to take the training seriously, as it has the potential to positively impact the success of this year’s Hajj.